Storage device and system for coupling to a side of an automobile

Abstract

Various implementations include a storage device for coupling to a side of an automobile. The device includes a strap and at least one rack. The strap has a strap longitudinal axis, a first strap portion, and a second strap portion. The strap includes two or more strap attachment portions. The rack has a first component defining a first component surface and a second component defining a second component surface. A plane defined by the second component surface is transverse to a plane defined by the first component surface. The rack includes a rack attachment portion coupled to the first component. The first strap portion and second strap portion are removably couplable to portions of the automobile. The rack attachment portion is removably couplable to a strap attachment portion such that the first component surface faces the strap and the second component extends from the first component away from the strap.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A storage device for coupling to a side of an automobile, the device comprising:
 a strap having a strap longitudinal axis, a first strap portion, and a second strap portion opposite and spaced apart from the first strap portion along the strap longitudinal axis, wherein the strap includes two or more strap attachment portions spaced apart from each other along the strap longitudinal axis;   at least one rack having a first component defining a first component surface and a second component defining a second component surface, wherein a plane defined by the second component surface is transverse to a plane defined by the first component surface, wherein the rack includes at least one rack attachment portion coupled to the first component,   wherein the first strap portion is removably couplable to a first portion of an automobile, and the second strap portion is removably couplable to a second portion of the automobile, wherein the second portion of the automobile is closer than the first portion of the automobile to a base of the automobile, and   wherein at least one rack attachment portion is removably couplable to one of the two or more strap attachment portions such that the first component surface faces the strap and the second component extends from the first component away from the strap.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the two or more strap attachment portions includes a loop, and each of the at least one rack attachment portions includes a hook. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the plane defined by the second component surface forms an oblique angle with the plane defined by the first component surface. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first component includes a first portion and a second portion opposite and spaced apart from the first portion, and the second component includes a first end and a second end opposite and spaced apart from the first end, wherein the at least one rack attachment portion is coupled to the first portion of the first component, and the first end of the second component is coupled to the second portion of the first component. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the second end of the second component is angled away from the first portion of the first component. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the second end of the second component includes a tab extending transverse to the second component surface. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the automobile is a top edge of a door of the automobile, and the first strap portion is configured to be removably couplable to the top edge of the door of the automobile when the door is in both an open position and a closed position. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the strap further includes a first hook coupled to the first strap portion, wherein the first hook is couplable to the first portion of the automobile. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the first hook has a radius of curvature of 0.5 inches or less. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the automobile is a bottom edge of a door of the automobile, and the second strap portion is configured to be removably couplable to the bottom edge of the door of the automobile when the door is in both an open position and a closed position. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the strap further includes a second hook coupled to the second strap portion, wherein the second hook is couplable to the second portion of the automobile. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the second hook has a radius of curvature of 0.5 inches or less. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the strap includes an adjustment buckle for changing the distance between the first strap portion and the second strap portion. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the adjustment buckle is a cam buckle. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a pad coupled to the at least one rack such that the pad abuts at least a portion of the first component surface. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the strap includes a first strap and a second strap, wherein the first strap includes the first strap portion and the second strap includes the second strap portion. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one rack includes two or more racks. 
     
     
         18 . A storage system for coupling to a side of an automobile, the system comprising a first device according to  claim 1  and a second device according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the first strap portion of the first device is configured to be removably couplable to a top edge of a door of the automobile when the door is in both an open position and a closed position, and the second strap portion of the first device is configured to be removably couplable to a bottom edge of the door of the automobile when the door is in both an open position and a closed position. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the first strap portion of the second device is configured to be removably couplable to a portion of a bed of the automobile, and the second strap portion of the second device is configured to be removably couplable to a bottom edge of a body of the automobile.